English
LandofAlbania!letmebendmineeyesOnthee;thouruggednurseofsavagemen!
—ChildeHarold
Theheavenswerestillstuddedwithstars,whenHawkeyecametoarousethesleepers.
CastingasidetheircloaksMunroandHeywardwereontheirfeetwhilethewoodsmanwasstillmakinghislowcalls,attheentranceoftherudeshelterwheretheyhadpassedthenight.
Whentheyissuedfrombeneathitsconcealment,theyfoundthescoutawaitingtheirappearancenighby,andtheonlysalutationbetweenthemwasthesignificantgestureforsilence,madebytheirsagaciousleader.
“Thinkoveryourprayers,”hewhispered,astheyapproachedhim;“forHetowhomyoumakethem,knowsalltongues;thatoftheheart,aswellasthoseofthemouth.
Butspeaknotasyllable;itisrareforawhitevoicetopitchitselfproperlyinthewoods,aswehaveseenbytheexampleofthatmiserabledevil,thesinger.
Come,”hecontinued,turningtowardacurtainoftheworks;“letusgetintotheditchonthisside,andberegardfultosteponthestonesandfragmentsofwoodasyougo.”
Hiscompanionscomplied,thoughtotwoofthemthereasonsofthisextraordinaryprecautionwereyetamystery.
Whentheywereinthelowcavitythatsurroundedtheearthenfortonthreesides,theyfoundthatpassagenearlychokedbytheruins.
Withcareandpatience,however,theysucceededinclamberingafterthescout,untiltheyreachedthesandyshoreoftheHorican.
“That’satrailthatnothingbutanosecanfollow,”saidthesatisfiedscout,lookingbackalongtheirdifficultway;“grassisatreacherouscarpetforaflyingpartytotreadon,butwoodandstonetakenoprintfromamoccasin.
Hadyouwornyourarmedboots,theremight,indeed,havebeensomethingtofear;butwiththedeer–skinsuitablyprepared,amanmaytrusthimself,generally,onrockswithsafety.
Shoveinthecanoenighertotheland,Uncas;thissandwilltakeastampaseasilyasthebutteroftheJarmansontheMohawk.
Softly,lad,softly;itmustnottouchthebeach,ortheknaveswillknowbywhatroadwehavelefttheplace.”
Theyoungmanobservedtheprecaution;andthescout,layingaboardfromtheruinstothecanoe,madeasignforthetwoofficerstoenter.
Whenthiswasdone,everythingwasstudiouslyrestoredtoitsformerdisorder;andthenHawkeyesucceededinreachinghislittlebirchenvessel,withoutleavingbehindhimanyofthosemarkswhichheappearedsomuchtodread.
HeywardwassilentuntiltheIndianshadcautiouslypaddledthecanoesomedistancefromthefort,andwithinthebroadanddarkshadowsthatfellfromtheeasternmountainontheglassysurfaceofthelake;thenhedemanded:
“Whatneedhaveweforthisstolenandhurrieddeparture?”
“IfthebloodofanOneidacouldstainsuchasheetofpurewaterasthiswefloaton,”returnedthescout,“yourtwoeyeswouldansweryourownquestion.
HaveyouforgottentheskulkingreptileUncasslew?”
“Bynomeans.Buthewassaidtobealone,anddeadmengivenocauseforfear.”
“Ay,hewasaloneinhisdeviltry!butanIndianwhosetribecountssomanywarriors,needseldomfearhisbloodwillrunwithoutthedeathshriekcomingspeedilyfromsomeofhisenemies.”
“Butourpresence—theauthorityofColonelMunro—wouldprovesufficientprotectionagainsttheangerofourallies,especiallyinacasewherethewretchsowellmeritedhisfate.
ItrustinHeavenyouhavenotdeviatedasinglefootfromthedirectlineofourcoursewithsoslightareason!”
“Doyouthinkthebulletofthatvarlet’sriflewouldhaveturnedaside,thoughhissacredmajestythekinghadstoodinitspath?”returnedthestubbornscout.
“WhydidnotthegrandFrencher,hewhoiscaptain–generaloftheCanadas,burythetomahawksoftheHurons,ifawordfromawhitecanworksostronglyonthenatur’ofanIndian?”
ThereplyofHeywardwasinterruptedbyagroanfromMunro;butafterhehadpausedamoment,indeferencetothesorrowofhisagedfriendheresumedthesubject.
“ThemarquisofMontcalmcanonlysettlethaterrorwithhisGod,”saidtheyoungmansolemnly.
“Ay,ay,nowthereisreasoninyourwords,fortheyarebottomedonreligionandhonesty.
Thereisavastdifferencebetweenthrowingaregimentofwhitecoatsatwixtthetribesandtheprisoners,andcoaxinganangrysavagetoforgethecarriesaknifeandrifle,withwordsthatmustbeginwithcallinghimyourson.
No,no,”continuedthescout,lookingbackatthedimshoreofWilliamHenry,whichwasnowfastreceding,andlaughinginhisownsilentbutheartfeltmanner;“Ihaveputatrailofwateratweenus;andunlesstheimpscanmakefriendswiththefishes,andhearwhohaspaddledacrosstheirbasinthisfinemorning,weshallthrowthelengthoftheHoricanbehindusbeforetheyhavemadeuptheirmindswhichpathtotake.”
“Withfoesinfront,andfoesinourrear,ourjourneyisliketobeoneofdanger.”
“Danger!”repeatedHawkeye,calmly;“no,notabsolutelyofdanger;for,withvigilantearsandquickeyes,wecanmanagetokeepafewhoursaheadoftheknaves;or,ifwemusttrytherifle,therearethreeofuswhounderstanditsgiftsaswellasanyyoucannameontheborders.
No,notofdanger;butthatweshallhavewhatyoumaycallabriskpushofit,isprobable;anditmayhappen,abrush,ascrimmage,orsomesuchdivarsion,butalwayswherecoversaregood,andammunitionabundant.”
ItispossiblethatHeyward’sestimateofdangerdifferedinsomedegreefromthatofthescout,for,insteadofreplying,henowsatinsilence,whilethecanoeglidedoverseveralmilesofwater.
Justasthedaydawned,theyenteredthenarrowsofthelake,andstoleswiftlyandcautiouslyamongtheirnumberlesslittleislands.
ItwasbythisroadthatMontcalmhadretiredwithhisarmy,andtheadventurersknewnotbuthehadleftsomeofhisIndiansinambush,toprotecttherearofhisforces,andcollectthestragglers.
They,therefore,approachedthepassagewiththecustomarysilenceoftheirguardedhabits.
ThebeautiesofLakeGeorgearewellknowntoeveryAmericantourist.
Intheheightofthemountainswhichsurroundit,andinartificialaccessories,itisinferiortothefinestoftheSwissandItalianlakes,whileinoutlineandpurityofwateritisfullytheirequal;andinthenumberanddispositionofitsislesandisletsmuchsuperiortothemalltogether.
Therearesaidtobesomehundredsofislandsinasheetofwaterlessthanthirtymileslong.
Thenarrows,whichconnectwhatmaybecalled,intruth,twolakes,arecrowdedwithislandstosuchadegreeastoleavepassagesbetweenthemfrequentlyofonlyafewfeetinwidth.
Thelakeitselfvariesinbreadthfromonetothreemiles.
Chingachgooklaidasidehispaddle;whileUncasandthescouturgedthelightvesselthroughcrookedandintricatechannels,whereeveryfootthattheyadvancedexposedthemtothedangerofsomesuddenrisingontheirprogress.
TheeyesoftheSagamoremovedwarilyfromislettoislet,andcopsetocopse,asthecanoeproceeded;and,whenaclearersheetofwaterpermitted,hiskeenvisionwasbentalongthebaldrocksandimpendingforeststhatfrowneduponthenarrowstrait.
Heyward,whowasadoublyinterestedspectator,aswellfromthebeautiesoftheplaceasfromtheapprehensionnaturaltohissituation,wasjustbelievingthathehadpermittedthelattertobeexcitedwithoutsufficientreason,whenthepaddleceasedmoving,inobediencetoasignalfromChingachgook.
“Hugh!”exclaimedUncas,nearlyatthemomentthatthelighttaphisfatherhadmadeonthesideofthecanoenotifiedthemofthevicinityofdanger.
“Whatnow?”askedthescout;“thelakeisassmoothasifthewindshadneverblown,andIcanseealongitssheetformiles;thereisnotsomuchastheblackheadofaloondottingthewater.”
TheIndiangravelyraisedhispaddle,andpointedinthedirectioninwhichhisownsteadylookwasriveted.Duncan’seyesfollowedthemotion.
Afewrodsintheirfrontlayanotherofthewoodedislets,butitappearedascalmandpeacefulasifitssolitudehadneverbeendisturbedbythefootofman.
“Iseenothing,”hesaid,“butlandandwater;andalovelysceneitis.”
“Hist!”interruptedthescout.
“Ay,Sagamore,thereisalwaysareasonforwhatyoudo.
‘Tisbutashade,andyetitisnotnatural.
Youseethemist,major,thatisrisingabovetheisland;youcan’tcallitafog,foritismorelikeastreakofthincloud—”
“Itisvaporfromthewater.”
“Thatachildcouldtell.Butwhatistheedgingofblackersmokethathangsalongitslowerside,andwhichyoumaytracedownintothethicketofhazel?
‘Tisfromafire;butonethat,inmyjudgment,hasbeensufferedtoburnlow.”
“Letus,then,pushfortheplace,andrelieveourdoubts,”saidtheimpatientDuncan;“thepartymustbesmallthatcanlieonsuchabitofland.”
“IfyoujudgeofIndiancunningbytherulesyoufindinbooks,orbywhitesagacity,theywillleadyouastray,ifnottoyourdeath,”returnedHawkeye,examiningthesignsoftheplacewiththatacutenesswhichdistinguishedhim.
“IfImaybepermittedtospeakinthismatter,itwillbetosay,thatwehavebuttwothingstochoosebetween:theoneis,toreturn,andgiveupallthoughtsoffollowingtheHurons—”
“Never!”exclaimedHeyward,inavoicefartooloudfortheircircumstances.
“Well,well,”continuedHawkeye,makingahastysigntorepresshisimpatience;“Iammuchofyourmindmyself;thoughIthoughtitbecomingmyexperiencetotellthewhole.
Wemust,then,makeapush,andiftheIndiansorFrenchersareinthenarrows,runthegauntletthroughthesetopplingmountains.Istherereasoninmywords,Sagamore?”
TheIndianmadenootheranswerthanbydroppinghispaddleintothewater,andurgingforwardthecanoe.
Asheheldtheofficeofdirectingitscourse,hisresolutionwassufficientlyindicatedbythemovement.
Thewholepartynowpliedtheirpaddlesvigorously,andinaveryfewmomentstheyhadreachedapointwhencetheymightcommandanentireviewofthenorthernshoreoftheisland,thesidethathadhithertobeenconcealed.
“Theretheyare,byallthetruthofsigns,”whisperedthescout,“twocanoesandasmoke.
Theknaveshaven’tyetgottheireyesoutofthemist,orweshouldheartheaccursedwhoop.Together,friends!
weareleavingthem,andarealreadynearlyoutofwhistleofabullet.”
Thewell–knowncrackofarifle,whoseballcameskippingalongtheplacidsurfaceofthestrait,andashrillyellfromtheisland,interruptedhisspeech,andannouncedthattheirpassagewasdiscovered.
Inanotherinstantseveralsavageswereseenrushingintocanoes,whichweresoondancingoverthewaterinpursuit.
Thesefearfulprecursorsofacomingstruggleproducednochangeinthecountenancesandmovementsofhisthreeguides,sofarasDuncancoulddiscover,exceptthatthestrokesoftheirpaddleswerelongerandmoreinunison,andcausedthelittlebarktospringforwardlikeacreaturepossessinglifeandvolition.
“Holdthemthere,Sagamore,”saidHawkeye,lookingcoollybackwardoverthisleftshoulder,whilehestillpliedhispaddle;“keepthemjustthere.
ThemHuronshaveneverapieceintheirnationthatwillexecuteatthisdistance;but‘killdeer’hasabarrelonwhichamanmaycalculate.”
ThescouthavingascertainedthattheMohicansweresufficientofthemselvestomaintaintherequisitedistance,deliberatelylaidasidehispaddle,andraisedthefatalrifle.
Threeseveraltimeshebroughtthepiecetohisshoulder,andwhenhiscompanionswereexpectingitsreport,heasoftenloweredittorequesttheIndianswouldpermittheirenemiestoapproachalittlenigher.
Atlengthhisaccurateandfastidiouseyeseemedsatisfied,and,throwingouthisleftarmonthebarrel,hewasslowlyelevatingthemuzzle,whenanexclamationfromUncas,whosatinthebow,oncemorecausedhimtosuspendtheshot.
“What,now,lad?”demandedHawkeye;“yousaveaHuronfromthedeath–shriekbythatword;haveyoureasonforwhatyoudo?”
Uncaspointedtowardarockyshorealittleintheirfront,whenceanotherwarcanoewasdartingdirectlyacrosstheircourse.
Itwastooobviousnowthattheirsituationwasimminentlyperiloustoneedtheaidoflanguagetoconfirmit.
Thescoutlaidasidehisrifle,andresumedthepaddle,whileChingachgookinclinedthebowsofthecanoealittletowardthewesternshore,inordertoincreasethedistancebetweenthemandthisnewenemy.
Inthemeantimetheywereremindedofthepresenceofthosewhopressedupontheirrear,bywildandexultingshouts.
ThestirringsceneawakenedevenMunrofromhisapathy.
“Letusmakefortherocksonthemain,”hesaid,withthemienofatiredsoldier,“andgivebattletothesavages.
GodforbidthatI,orthoseattachedtomeandmine,shouldevertrustagaintothefaithofanyservantoftheLouis’s!”
“HewhowishestoprosperinIndianwarfare,”returnedthescout,“mustnotbetooproudtolearnfromthewitofanative.
Layhermorealongtheland,Sagamore;wearedoublingonthevarlets,andperhapstheymaytrytostrikeourtrailonthelongcalculation.”
Hawkeyewasnotmistaken;forwhentheHuronsfoundtheircoursewaslikelytothrowthembehindtheirchasetheyrendereditlessdirect,until,bygraduallybearingmoreandmoreobliquely,thetwocanoeswere,erelong,glidingonparallellines,withintwohundredyardsofeachother.
Itnowbecameentirelyatrialofspeed.
Sorapidwastheprogressofthelightvessels,thatthelakecurledintheirfront,inminiaturewaves,andtheirmotionbecameundulatingbyitsownvelocity.
Itwas,perhaps,owingtothiscircumstance,inadditiontothenecessityofkeepingeveryhandemployedatthepaddles,thattheHuronshadnotimmediaterecoursetotheirfirearms.
Theexertionsofthefugitivesweretooseveretocontinuelong,andthepursuershadtheadvantageofnumbers.
Duncanobservedwithuneasiness,thatthescoutbegantolookanxiouslyabouthim,asifsearchingforsomefurthermeansofassistingtheirflight.
“Edgeheralittlemorefromthesun,Sagamore,”saidthestubbornwoodsman;“Iseetheknavesaresparingamantotherifle.
Asinglebrokenbonemightloseusourscalps.
Edgemorefromthesunandwewillputtheislandbetweenus.”
Theexpedientwasnotwithoutitsuse.Along,lowislandlayatalittledistancebeforethem,and,astheyclosedwithit,thechasingcanoewascompelledtotakeasideoppositetothatonwhichthepursuedpassed.
Thescoutandhiscompanionsdidnotneglectthisadvantage,buttheinstanttheywerehidfromobservationbythebushes,theyredoubledeffortsthatbeforehadseemedprodigious.
Thetwocanoescameroundthelastlowpoint,liketwocoursersatthetopoftheirspeed,thefugitivestakingthelead.
Thischangehadbroughtthemnighertoeachother,however,whileitalteredtheirrelativepositions.
“Youshowedknowledgeintheshapingofabirchenbark,Uncas,whenyouchosethisfromamongtheHuroncanoes,”saidthescout,smiling,apparentlymoreinsatisfactionattheirsuperiorityintheracethanfromthatprospectoffinalescapewhichnowbegantoopenalittleuponthem.
“Theimpshaveputalltheirstrengthagainatthepaddles,andwearetostruggleforourscalpswithbitsofflattenedwood,insteadofcloudedbarrelsandtrueeyes.Alongstroke,andtogether,friends.”
“Theyarepreparingforashot,”saidHeyward;“andasweareinalinewiththem,itcanscarcelyfail.”
“Getyou,then,intothebottomofthecanoe,”returnedthescout;“youandthecolonel;itwillbesomuchtakenfromthesizeofthemark.”
Heywardsmiled,asheanswered:
“Itwouldbebutanillexampleforthehighestinranktododge,whilethewarriorswereunderfire.”
“Lord!Lord!Thatisnowawhiteman’scourage!”
exclaimedthescout;“andliketomanyofhisnotions,nottobemaintainedbyreason.
DoyouthinktheSagamore,orUncas,orevenI,whoamamanwithoutacross,woulddeliberateaboutfindingacoverinthescrimmage,whenanopenbodywoulddonogood?
ForwhathavetheFrenchersreareduptheirQuebec,iffightingisalwaystobedoneintheclearings?”
“Allthatyousayisverytrue,myfriend,”repliedHeyward;“still,ourcustomsmustpreventusfromdoingasyouwish.”
AvolleyfromtheHuronsinterruptedthediscourse,andasthebulletswhistledaboutthem,DuncansawtheheadofUncasturned,lookingbackathimselfandMunro.
Notwithstandingthenearnessoftheenemy,andhisowngreatpersonaldanger,thecountenanceoftheyoungwarriorexpressednootheremotion,astheformerwascompelledtothink,thanamazementatfindingmenwillingtoencountersouselessanexposure.
Chingachgookwasprobablybetteracquaintedwiththenotionsofwhitemen,forhedidnotevencastaglanceasidefromtherivetedlookhiseyemaintainedontheobjectbywhichhegovernedtheircourse.
Aballsoonstruckthelightandpolishedpaddlefromthehandsofthechief,anddroveitthroughtheair,farintheadvance.
AshoutarosefromtheHurons,whoseizedtheopportunitytofireanothervolley.
Uncasdescribedanarcinthewaterwithhisownblade,andasthecanoepassedswiftlyon,Chingachgookrecoveredhispaddle,andflourishingitonhigh,hegavethewar–whoopoftheMohicans,andthenlenthisstrengthandskillagaintotheimportanttask.
Theclamoroussoundsof“LeGrosSerpent!”“LaLongueCarabine!”“LeCerfAgile!”
burstatoncefromthecanoesbehind,andseemedtogivenewzealtothepursuers.
Thescoutseized“killdeer”inhislefthand,andelevatingitabouthishead,heshookitintriumphathisenemies.
Thesavagesansweredtheinsultwithayell,andimmediatelyanothervolleysucceeded.
Thebulletspatteredalongthelake,andoneevenpiercedthebarkoftheirlittlevessel.
NoperceptibleemotioncouldbediscoveredintheMohicansduringthiscriticalmoment,theirrigidfeaturesexpressingneitherhopenoralarm;butthescoutagainturnedhishead,and,laughinginhisownsilentmanner,hesaidtoHeyward:
“Theknaveslovetohearthesoundsoftheirpieces;buttheeyeisnottobefoundamongtheMingoesthatcancalculateatruerangeinadancingcanoe!
Youseethedumbdevilshavetakenoffamantocharge,andbythesmallestmeasurementthatcanbeallowed,wemovethreefeettotheirtwo!”
Duncan,whowasnotaltogetheraseasyunderthisniceestimateofdistancesashiscompanions,wasgladtofind,however,thatowingtotheirsuperiordexterity,andthediversionamongtheirenemies,theywereverysensiblyobtainingtheadvantage.
TheHuronssoonfiredagain,andabulletstruckthebladeofHawkeye’spaddlewithoutinjury.
“Thatwilldo,”saidthescout,examiningtheslightindentationwithacuriouseye;“itwouldnothavecuttheskinofaninfant,muchlessofmen,who,likeus,havebeenblownuponbytheheavensintheiranger.
Now,major,ifyouwilltrytousethispieceofflattenedwood,I’lllet‘killdeer’takeapartintheconversation.”
Heywardseizedthepaddle,andappliedhimselftotheworkwithaneagernessthatsuppliedtheplaceofskill,whileHawkeyewasengagedininspectingtheprimingofhisrifle.
Thelatterthentookaswiftaimandfired.
TheHuroninthebowsoftheleadingcanoehadrisenwithasimilarobject,andhenowfellbackward,sufferinghisguntoescapefromhishandsintothewater.
Inaninstant,however,herecoveredhisfeet,thoughhisgestureswerewildandbewildered.
Atthesamemomenthiscompanionssuspendedtheirefforts,andthechasingcanoesclusteredtogether,andbecamestationary.
ChingachgookandUncasprofitedbytheintervaltoregaintheirwind,thoughDuncancontinuedtoworkwiththemostperseveringindustry.
Thefatherandsonnowcastcalmbutinquiringglancesateachother,tolearnifeitherhadsustainedanyinjurybythefire;forbothwellknewthatnocryorexclamationwould,insuchamomentofnecessityhavebeenpermittedtobetraytheaccident.
AfewlargedropsofbloodweretricklingdowntheshoulderoftheSagamore,who,whenheperceivedthattheeyesofUncasdwelttoolongonthesight,raisedsomewaterinthehollowofhishand,andwashingoffthestain,wascontenttomanifest,inthissimplemanner,theslightnessoftheinjury.
“Softly,softly,major,”saidthescout,whobythistimehadreloadedhisrifle;“wearealittletoofaralreadyforarifletoputforthitsbeauties,andyouseeyonderimpsareholdingacouncil.
Letthemcomeupwithinstrikingdistance—myeyemaywellbetrustedinsuchamatter—andIwilltrailthevarletsthelengthoftheHorican,guaranteeingthatnotashotoftheirsshall,attheworst,morethanbreaktheskin,while‘killdeer’shalltouchthelifetwiceinthreetimes.”
“Weforgetourerrand,”returnedthediligentDuncan.“ForGod’ssakeletusprofitbythisadvantage,andincreaseourdistancefromtheenemy.”
“Givememychildren,”saidMunro,hoarsely;“triflenolongerwithafather’sagony,butrestorememybabes.”
Longandhabitualdeferencetothemandatesofhissuperiorshadtaughtthescoutthevirtueofobedience.
Throwingalastandlingeringglanceatthedistantcanoes,helaidasidehisrifle,and,relievingtheweariedDuncan,resumedthepaddle,whichhewieldedwithsinewsthatnevertired.
HiseffortsweresecondedbythoseoftheMohicansandaveryfewminutesservedtoplacesuchasheetofwaterbetweenthemandtheirenemies,thatHeywardoncemorebreathedfreely.
Thelakenowbegantoexpand,andtheirroutelayalongawidereach,thatwaslined,asbefore,byhighandraggedmountains.
Buttheislandswerefew,andeasilyavoided.
Thestrokesofthepaddlesgrewmoremeasuredandregular,whiletheywhopliedthemcontinuedtheirlabor,afterthecloseanddeadlychasefromwhichtheyhadjustrelievedthemselves,withasmuchcoolnessasthoughtheirspeedhadbeentriedinsport,ratherthanundersuchpressing,nay,almostdesperate,circumstances.
Insteadoffollowingthewesternshore,whithertheirerrandledthem,thewaryMohicaninclinedhiscoursemoretowardthosehillsbehindwhichMontcalmwasknowntohaveledhisarmyintotheformidablefortressofTiconderoga.
AstheHurons,toeveryappearance,hadabandonedthepursuit,therewasnoapparentreasonforthisexcessofcaution.
Itwas,however,maintainedforhours,untiltheyhadreachedabay,nighthenorthernterminationofthelake.
Herethecanoewasdrivenuponthebeach,andthewholepartylanded.
HawkeyeandHeywardascendedanadjacentbluff,wheretheformer,afterconsideringtheexpanseofwaterbeneathhim,pointedouttothelatterasmallblackobject,hoveringunderaheadland,atthedistanceofseveralmiles.
“Doyouseeit?”demandedthescout.“Now,whatwouldyouaccountthatspot,wereyouleftalonetowhiteexperiencetofindyourwaythroughthiswilderness?”
“Butforitsdistanceanditsmagnitude,Ishouldsupposeitabird.Canitbealivingobject?”
”’Tisacanoeofgoodbirchenbark,andpaddledbyfierceandcraftyMingoes.
ThoughProvidencehaslenttothosewhoinhabitthewoodseyesthatwouldbeneedlesstomeninthesettlements,wherethereareinventionstoassistthesight,yetnohumanorganscanseeallthedangerswhichatthismomentcircumventus.
Thesevarletspretendtobebentchieflyontheirsun–downmeal,butthemomentitisdarktheywillbeonourtrail,astrueashoundsonthescent.
Wemustthrowthemoff,orourpursuitofLeRenardSubtilmaybegivenup.
Theselakesareusefulattimes,especiallywhenthegametakethewater,”continuedthescout,gazingabouthimwithacountenanceofconcern;“buttheygivenocover,exceptitbetothefishes.
Godknowswhatthecountrywouldbe,ifthesettlementsshouldeverspreadfarfromthetworivers.
Bothhuntingandwarwouldlosetheirbeauty.”
“Letusnotdelayamoment,withoutsomegoodandobviouscause.”
“Ilittlelikethatsmoke,whichyoumayseewormingupalongtherockabovethecanoe,”interruptedtheabstractedscout.
“Mylifeonit,othereyesthanoursseeit,andknowitsmeaning.
Well,wordswillnotmendthematter,anditistimethatweweredoing.”
Hawkeyemovedawayfromthelookout,anddescended,musingprofoundly,totheshore.
Hecommunicatedtheresultofhisobservationstohiscompanions,inDelaware,andashortandearnestconsultationsucceeded.
Whenitterminated,thethreeinstantlysetaboutexecutingtheirnewresolutions.
Thecanoewasliftedfromthewater,andborneontheshouldersoftheparty,theyproceededintothewood,makingasbroadandobviousatrailaspossible.
Theysoonreachedthewater–course,whichtheycrossed,and,continuingonward,untiltheycametoanextensiveandnakedrock.
Atthispoint,wheretheirfootstepsmightbeexpectedtobenolongervisible,theyretracedtheirroutetothebrook,walkingbackward,withtheutmostcare.
Theynowfollowedthebedofthelittlestreamtothelake,intowhichtheyimmediatelylaunchedtheircanoeagain.
Alowpointconcealedthemfromtheheadland,andthemarginofthelakewasfringedforsomedistancewithdenseandoverhangingbushes.
Underthecoverofthesenaturaladvantages,theytoiledtheirway,withpatientindustry,untilthescoutpronouncedthathebelieveditwouldbesafeoncemoretoland.
Thehaltcontinueduntileveningrenderedobjectsindistinctanduncertaintotheeye.
Thentheyresumedtheirroute,and,favoredbythedarkness,pushedsilentlyandvigorouslytowardthewesternshore.
Althoughtheruggedoutlineofmountain,towhichtheyweresteering,presentednodistinctivemarkstotheeyesofDuncan,theMohicanenteredthelittlehavenhehadselectedwiththeconfidenceandaccuracyofanexperiencedpilot.
Theboatwasagainliftedandborneintothewoods,whereitwascarefullyconcealedunderapileofbrush.
Theadventurersassumedtheirarmsandpacks,andthescoutannouncedtoMunroandHeywardthatheandtheIndianswereatlastinreadinesstoproceed.
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